Welcome Nebraska Wedding Day Magazine!

Photo copyright Nebraska Wedding Day magazine and

used with permission of the publisher.

Dear Blog Friends,

I am excited to announce my newest writing client, Nebraska Wedding Day magazine, published by a young and very impressive entrepreneur, Courtney Lockridge. I have already enjoyed working with Courtney, and am looking forward to seeing seven of my articles in print in her gorgeous wedding magazine come January 1, 2009. (Magazines work months to a year ahead of time.)

Nebraska Wedding Day magazine serves the entire state of Nebraska as a premier wedding magazine and resource guide, and I feel it rivals any of the national bridal magazines with its colorful gorgeous visual layout, interesting and informative articles, and stunning photos. As you know by now, I have high standards about where I like to see my writing byline, and I am proud to be hired to write for this beautiful publication.

Now here's the best part...Until Courtney became a new client I did not know of this magazine, nor had I ever met her, but ironically, from 1980 to 1999, hubby Steve and I lived in the Nebraska towns/cities of Valentine, West Point, and Omaha, so it's been great fun seeing so many names and places I well remember in the pages of her beautiful magazine and on her website at http://www.neweddingday.com/. (Okay, so I won't mention the fact that the young brides getting married are probably some of my former sweet little Nebraska students from when I taught school there who are now marrying age. Ah hem! :)

Need creative ideas for your upcoming family wedding? Be sure to check out http://www.neweddingday.com/.

'Til Next Time!

--Kathryn--

http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

Strawberries on My Terrace

Lunch on my terrace

Dear Blog Friends,

On a HOT day in August, please join me for lunch and an iced tea on my terrace, which is the August "Featured Porch" on Rachel Going's home and garden blog, A Romantic Porch.

You can check it out here:

http://rachelgoing.blogspot.com/2008/08/august-featured-porch.html

We might have some luscious strawberries, too!

Happy August,

Kathryn

http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

Organized Travel Tips

Dear Blog Friends,

Are you taking a family vacation this summer? I grew up with a father who worked in the airline industry for over 40 years, I've traveled extensively across the U.S. with my hubby Steve, and I had my own professional organizing business for years, so I thought I'd share a few of my personal tips for organized travel so you can get where you're going with style and ease!

I keep a clear plastic bin with a lid in our Master Bedroom walk-in closet and in it I store all my travel gear so when it's time to pack our suitcases, I have everything at my fingertips, such as: A Do Not Disturb sign for my lodging room door, eyeshades and earplugs for taking a nap on the plane, quart size ziplock plastic bags with small size toiletries for my carry-on bag, a small hairdryer, a small iron, etc. You get the picture! Just pull it out of the bin, pack, and GO!

My best travel tip is freezer weight ziplock bags. They are not as flimsy as the regular kind and hold small items as well as shoes, socks, and undies, etc. and being able to see through them helps you find things at a glance. See the little rolled item? That's travel toilet paper from the wonderful Magellan's Travel catalog! http://www.magellans.com/.

Also from Magellan Travel is this dandy hanging toiletries organizer with clear pouches. I especially love it when we go to Bed & Breakfast Inns as many times they have pedestal sinks in the bathroom with no counter space so being able to hang this on a towel bar next to the sink is great! This holds much more than you can imagine and then folds up and zips to a small size!


I always take a pretty zippered carry-on bag packed with one pair of slacks, two tops, a jacket, jewelry, extra undies, my toiletries, and a book, just in case (gasp!!) the airlines loses my luggage. I put my purse inside it so I only have one thing to carry. That way I can get by comfortably for a day or two with my own things.

I wear Chico's travel knits when I travel for comfort and ease. http://www.chicos.com/. No ironing and I look stylish by day or night if I wear all black with a pretty colored scarf or pin. You can also buy wonderful women's travel knitwear and other travel supplies at http://www.travelsmith.com/.

If you would like to purchase my $10 Travel Planning & Packing Checklist I have perfected over many years to help you pre-plan your trip so that you won't forget one thing, email me at kathrynbechen@yahoo.com with "Travel Checklist" in the Subject Line of your email and I will email you the PayPal link to pay for it. Once I receive your payment, I will email you a download of my Travel Checklist so you can have a wonderfully organized trip next time!

Happy Travels!
--Kathryn--
http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

Vacation at Home

Click the link below to see a stupendous nighttime city lights view of downtown San Diego from

Bertrand at Mr. A's Restaurant

http://www.bertrandatmisteras.com/

Dear Blog Friends,

If you aren't able to take a long distance vacation this summer, why not try a new restaurant in your own hometown? When hubby Steve and I recently stayed at the beautiful Britt Scripps Inn in downtown San Diego for an overnight getaway, their innkeeper told us to walk across the street for dinner at Bertrand at Mr. A's for a fabulous high rise view of downtown San Diego. Gorgeous!! I had never been there in my nearly ten years of living in San Diego and we both loved it!

It's pricey to be sure, but worth every last penny, as the service was impeccable and the food heavenly and beautifully presented. It's intimately and elegantly beautiful with no loud music blaring either, as so many restaurants have these days. The waiters stood across the room so they could notice when we were done with a course and promptly removed our plate. When I went to the ladies' room, I returned to find my napkin folded in front of me again. Now that's service!!

You can eat out on the terrace if you're not afraid of heights, but I personally opted for the intimacy of the indoors.

My salad was to die for and I love it when they put that chocolate swirl around it for a beautiful presentation.

I had the duck dish, and I don't recall the exact name, so I 'll call it "Duck Divine" because it was heavenly! And the little beef slices that went with it were melt-in-your mouth. (Are you sure there's not a new restaurant in your hometown you want to try?!)

Once the sun set the downtown city lights were just fabulous!

The sunset over San Diego Bay was so spectacular and the weather was a perfect summer night.

It was also fun to watch the airplanes fly in one after another over San Diego Bay.

The blue water glasses and yellow flowers in blue vases were a charming touch to an elegant and memorable night.

Please do take some time to find a new restaurant in your hometown and savor some delectable delights!!

'Til Next Time!

--Kathryn--
www.KathrynBechenInk

Bed & Breakfast Bliss Award--Britt Scripps Inn, San Diego, CA

Welcome to Britt Scripps Inn--San Diego, CA

http://www.brittscrippsinn.com/

Dear Blog Friends,

I admit it! As a writer, it was the copy on the website of the Britt Scripps Inn that drew me in! (Let's just say the writer likely writes romance novels in her spare time! In any event, I know good writing when I see it!) Because the stellar writing intrigued me, I asked my hubby to take a much needed vacation day away from our busy work schedules and head over for our 63rd B&B stay since 1987. He agreed and we hopped in the car, drove about ten miles, and stayed there for a romantic getaway night of relaxation and rejuvenation. Ah, bliss!

And fortunate gal that I am, I managed to snag the master suite for just $225 as it was a "discount day" on their calendar and the room rents vary day by day and go to up to as much as $600 per night! I had a lucky B&B star over my head, to be sure. :)

I hope you'll pour yourself a cup of tea and venture virtually along with me to this stupendous, over-the-top gorgeous Victorian Grand Dame of an inn. All factors considered, I rate the Britt Scripps Number 1 of the 63 Inns we've stayed in, and here's why...

The inn is located right in the heart of downtown San Diego and is a step back in time as it overlooks high rise condos, huge hotels, and upscale restaurants.

Palm trees abound on the property, and some of them are as tall as the house!

I love the turret! Kind of like Romeo and Juliet. :)

Due to a six million dollar renovation, every inch of the house, both inside and out is absolutely impeccable.

I also love the colors they chose and the foliage around the house is truly

"San Diego style" flora and fauna.

This beautiful arbor is home to many weddings and lovely outdoor parties.

A carpet of foliage covers the arbor to shield the bright San Diego sun, which shines nearly 365 days a year.

The gardens have a patio where guests can have a cup of tea or sip a glass of wine. Divine!

This sweet brick path leads to the cottage style carriage house.

The carriage house cottage is too charming! I was not able to get photos of the inside as someone was staying there. (Lucky them!)

Probably the most spectacular thing about this house is these absolutely gorgeous stained glass windows on the west side. I took this shot while overlooking the large ornate staircase.

The staircase ended by the windows and a Victorian baby grand piano.

Closeup of one of the windows. Isn't it stunning?!

As is this one!

And this one!

I also love the two stately light fixtures at the end of the staircase.

Here's a better view of them.

The parlor and breakfast rooms are on each side of the staircase.

Hubby Steve enjoyed reading the newspaper in the parlor. Check out that beautiful Victorian fireplace! The blue tile is original and a luscious blue.

The parlor boasts exquisite Victorian furniture.

Isn't the grand piano....well, grand?!!

We were waited on hand and foot by Eileen, a young gal from New York who works at the inn and does a wonderful job. She is friendly and charming and just perfect for the job. As a visual artist, she has a nice touch with flower arranging and did a super job with decorating the wine and cheese tray.

Eileen told us this tile mosaic in the downstairs bathroom is original to the home.

I absolutely love this tile painting of the lady with the urn! So charming and elegant!

The house has details that are absolutely impeccable, both original, and those put in during the renovation. Thank goodness the owner had foresight enough to preserve this beautiful landmark San Diego home!

More detail.

And more on the staircase.

I also was enamored with the light fixtures. Gorgeous!

This one is in the breakfast room and I love their choice of three paint colors. Not easy to pull that coordination off!

The ceiling in this room is very uniquely detailed.

Love the ceiling rosette!

One of the bedrooms, complete with delightfully charming Victorian wicker furniture.

All of the beds are ornately carved and the original woodwork around the doors is painted beautiful colors to match the decor.

Or perhaps a brass bed is more to your liking?

I absolutely adored this bed! It reminds me of a childhood home I lived in that had antique dressers like this.

Now for our room...the Master Suite...the Balboa Room. The bathroom has this beautiful cameo tile. Every room has a modernized bathroom made to look authentically Victorian.

I love the claw foot bath tub. The feet are ornate silver.

The best room in the house! Our room! The painting on the wall is so pretty and so well matched to the room that I could not stop looking at it. It drew me in!

Notice the ceiling in our room!

But best of all was the bed! Beautifully carved wood and soooooooo comfortable with 1000 thread count sheets! No kidding! Fit for a Queen and I was lucky enough to feel like one for a night. So restful. So restorative.

Our room even had a cute little patio that is part of the turret and overlooks the downtown San Diego skyline.

The breakfast room has this charming Victorian tea cart and white linens and flowers on the tables. Our white linen breakfast napkins were even monogrammed with a "B"

for Britt Scripps.

I love all the windows in the doors in the breakfast room.

Eileen had an artful way of putting little fresh flowers around on all of the food trays.

Hubby Steve enjoying our breakfast. Eileen even put a rose petal on the top of my overturned crystal water glass. I have gleaned many great decorating and entertaining ideas over the years from staying in inns! It's been like a school.

French toast was served and was quite delectable. We were even given a menu of choices for breakfast which we have never had in any of the inns we've stayed in and we thought that was a lovely and unique B&B touch.

Their white chocolate scones are to die for!

As I said, the details were impeccable at this inn, down to the sticker that adorned the triangle-folded toilet paper!!

If you've never stayed in a B&B before, do try the Britt Scripss Inn in San Diego. It's just the best of the best....the home, the staff, the service, the garden, the carriage house cottage, the arbor, the view of downtown San Diego! It's a gracious package deal and for the fee of only $225, we had a marvelously glorious and restful stay! http://www.brittscrippsinn.com/.

'Til Next Time!

--Kathryn--

http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

Bed & Breakfast Travels Inn-sights

B&B Room With a View: Room 302 The Inn at Dana Point, CA

Looking out from our balcony

Dear Blog Friends,

Introducing my new blog, Bed & Breakfast Bliss! I will be posting reviews, recipes, travel tales, tips, and tidbits from my travels to over 60 B&B Inns in 17 U.S. states (I just logged 63) with my hubby Steve as our navigator. I hope you enjoy and will travel vicariously with me to some super fun places all across America. We started this journey in 1987, and obsessed house nut that I am, I couldn't stop! :)

Here's my new Bed & Breakfast Bliss blog link:

http://www.bedandbreakfastbliss.blogspot.com/

B&B Bliss!

--Kathryn--

http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

Balboa Park Botanical Gardens in San Diego, CA

Hubby Steve at Balboa Park Botanical Gardens,

San Diego, CA

Dear Blog Friends,

Hubby Steve and I have been working super hard this year, so after finishing so many magazine writing assignments, I was ready for a beauty break. We visited Balboa Park's botanical gardens, the home of these incredible flowers and plants. Enjoy!

I always marvel at the beauty of flowers, but I found these breathtakingly stupendous!

'Til Next Time!

--Kathryn--

http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/